Saman Abbas case: Mother claims innocence in murder appeal

Nazia Shaheen, the mother of Saman Abbas, has declared her innocence during the appeal process regarding the 2021 murder of her 18-year-old daughter in Novellara, Italy. Shaheen, who recently returned to Italy from Pakistan, has suggested the involvement of other relatives in the crime.

While the first-instance verdict ruled that the murder was not premeditated but decided and executed on the same night, the Reggio Emilia Prosecutor's Office is appealing to prove premeditation. Conversely, Shaheen's defense argues that the decision to kill Saman could not have been made in mere minutes. Defense lawyers claim that during phone calls on the night of the crime, brothers Shabbar and Danish were discussing how to teach Saman a lesson regarding her relationship with Saqib Ayub, rather than coordinating the murder itself.

In a related development, HBO Max has announced a three-episode docuseries titled ‘Saman - La verità nascosta’ (Saman - The Hidden Truth), scheduled for release on September 18, 2026. The series aims to provide an intimate look at Saman's life using original audio and messages, moving beyond media simplifications to portray her as an adolescent seeking identity and freedom.